Apparatus and Method for Separating A Composite Liquid Into At Least Two Components

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for separating a volume of composite liquid into at least a first component and a second component comprising a centrifuge having a rotor with a turntable for supporting a separation bag; a central compartment for containing satellite bags, and fitted with a support member for supporting at least one satellite bag so that a liquid contained in the supported satellite bag drains from the supported satellite bag into the separation bag under centrifugation forces when the rotor is set in rotation.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Application No.:PCT/US2006/031734, filed Aug. 14, 2006 which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No.: 60/710,373, filed Aug. 22, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns an apparatus and a method for separatinga volume of composite liquid into at least two components.

BACKGROUND

The apparatus and method of the invention are particularly appropriatefor the separation of biological fluids comprising an aqueous componentand one or more cellular components. For example, potential uses of theinvention include: extracting a plasma component, a first cellularcomponent including platelets and mononuclear cells, and a secondcellular component including red blood cells and granulocytes from avolume of whole blood; and washing thawed glycerolized red blood cellsin order to extract therefrom red blood cells ready for use.

International patent application WO 2004/018021 describes a method andan apparatus for separating a volume of whole blood into either a plasmacomponent and a red blood cell component or a plasma component, a redblood cell component and a platelet component. The apparatus comprises acentrifuge adapted to cooperate with an annular separation bag for wholeblood, which is connected to either a plasma component bag and a redblood cell component bag or a plasma component bag, a red blood cellcomponent bag and a platelet component bag. The centrifuge includes arotor for spinning the separation bag and centrifuging the whole bloodcontained therein, the rotor having a turntable for supporting theseparation bag and a central compartment for containing the componentbags connected to the separation bag; and a squeezing system forsqueezing the separation bag and causing the transfer of the plasmacomponent from the separation bag into the plasma component bag, of thered blood cell component into the red blood cell component bag and, asthe case may be, of the platelet component into the platelet componentbag.

SUMMARY

An object of the invention is to design a centrifugation apparatus thatcan perform an optimized separation process for separating, in a minimumamount of time, a composite fluid, such as whole blood, into at leasttwo high quality components.

According to the invention, an apparatus is provided for separating avolume of composite liquid contained in a separation bag into at least afirst component and a second component, the separation bag being fluidlyconnected to at least a first satellite bag and a second satellite bag,the apparatus comprising a centrifuge having a rotor having a rotationaxis and comprising a turntable for supporting the separation bag; acentral compartment for containing at least the first satellite bag andthe second satellite bag, and a support means for supporting at leastone of the first and second satellite bags within the centralcompartment so that the supported satellite bag is pressed against thesupport means by centrifugation forces during rotation of the rotor, andso that the supported satellite bag has a lower portion that is closerto the axis of rotation than an upper portion thereof by which thesupported satellite bag is connected to the separation bag so that aliquid contained in the supported satellite bag drains from thesupported satellite bag into the separation bag under centrifugationforces when the rotor is rotated at a first rotation speed.

Other additional or alternative characteristics of this apparatus are asfollows.

The support means comprises an inclined wall that is inclined withrespect to the rotation axis so that a lower part of the wall is closerto the axis of rotation than an upper part of the wall, and a satellitebag that is secured by an upper portion thereof to the upper part of thewall has a lower portion that is closer to the axis of rotation than anupper portion thereof.

The apparatus further comprises a securing means for securing an upperportion of a satellite bag to an upper part of the inclined wall.

The securing means comprises a locking means integral with the inclinedwall, which is designed to cooperate with a bag holder having anelongated body, comprising a hanging means for removably holding atleast one satellite bag by an upper part thereof; and a locking means,complementary to the locking means integral with the inclined wall, forremovably securing the elongated body to the inclined wall.

The support means is so designed that a satellite bag supported by thesupport means is substantially located on one side of a plane containingthe rotation axis.

The support means comprises a cradle having a longitudinal axis that issubstantially parallel to the rotation axis, wherein the cradlecomprises a gutter-like wall having an inner concave surface facing thelongitudinal axis, and wherein the concave surface is inclined withrespect to the longitudinal axis so that a satellite bag secured by aupper portion thereof, within the concave surface, to an upper part ofthe gutter-like wall, has a bottom portion that is closer to thelongitudinal axis than an upper portion thereof.

The inner concave surface of the gutter-like wall is generallyfrusto-conical.

The cradle further comprises a containing wall connected to a lower partof the gutter-like wall so as to form a closed wall surrounding a lowerportion of a satellite bag secured to the gutter-like wall.

A distance between the containing wall to the longitudinal axis is lessthan a distance from the longitudinal axis to a point of the gutter likewall where an upper inlet/outlet of a satellite bag secured to the bagloading means is located.

The cradle further comprises a bottom wall connected to the gutter-likewall and the containing wall so as to form a receptacle for receiving alower portion of a satellite bag, wherein the receptacle has a depththat is smaller than the length of the gutter like wall.

The bottom wall comprises a curved portion having a concavity orientedtowards the rotation axis.

The cradle is removable from the central compartment.

The cradle is movable with respect to the central compartment so that itcan be lifted from a lower operational position in which a set of bagsis set to be spun by the rotor and an upper loading position in which asatellite bag is easily mounted in the cradle.

The apparatus further comprises a memory for storing at least the firstcentrifugation speed, and a control unit programmed for receiving the atleast first centrifugation speed from the memory, and causing the rotorto rotate at the first rotation speed so that a liquid contained in asatellite bag supported by the support means drains from the satellitebag into the separation bag under centrifugation forces.

The apparatus further comprises at least one sensor for detecting aliquid in a separation bag at a distance from the rotation axis, and acontrol unit programmed for receiving information from the at least onesensor; and causing the rotor to stop rotating, when a separation bag issupported by the turntable and a satellite bag, containing a liquid, issupported by the support means within the central compartment and whenthe at least one sensor does not detect a liquid in the separation bagafter a determined period of time after the rotor has rotated at thefirst rotation speed.

The apparatus further comprises at least one sensor for detecting aliquid in a separation bag at a distance from the rotation axis; atleast one valve member mounted on the rotor for interacting with a tubeconnecting a separation bag to a satellite bag and selectively allowingor blocking a fluid flow therethrough, and a control unit programmed forcausing at least one valve member to open a tube connecting a separationbag to a satellite bag containing a liquid, the separation bag beingsupported by the turntable and the satellite bag being supported by thesupport means within the central compartment; causing the rotor torotate at the at least one centrifugation speed; and causing the atleast one valve member to close the tube after the at least one sensordetects a liquid.

The composite liquid comprises red blood cells and the first rotationspeed is selected so that the pressure generated within a satellite bagcontaining the composite liquid does not substantially exceed adetermined pressure threshold above which hemolysis is likely to occurwhen a satellite bag supported by the support means is spun at the firstrotation speed.

The determined pressure threshold is about 10 PSI.

The composite liquid comprises red blood cells and the first rotationspeed is selected so that the shearing forces exerted on the compositeliquid do not cause substantial hemolysis during the transfer of thecomposite liquid from a satellite bag supported by the support meanswithin the central compartment into a satellite bag supported by theturntable.

The first rotation speed is less than about 1800 RPM.

The first rotation speed is selected so that the transfer of a compositeliquid from the satellite bag to the separation bag is as quick aspossible.

The first rotation speed is about 1500 RPM.

The apparatus further comprises a component transferring means forcausing a transfer of a first component from the separation bag into thefirst satellite bag and the transfer of a second component from theseparation bag into the second satellite bag.

The apparatus is for separating a volume of blood into plasma,platelets, white blood cells and red blood cells, the volume of bloodbeing contained in a first satellite bag connected to a separation bag,to which at least a second satellite bag is connected; the apparatusfurther comprises a component transferring means for causing a transferof the separated components into satellite bags; and a control unitprogrammed for causing the rotor to rotate at the first rotation speedso that the volume of blood drains, under centrifugation forces, from afirst satellite bag supported by the support means into a separation bagsupported by the turntable; causing the rotor to rotate at a secondrotation speed when the volume of blood has been transferred from thefirst satellite bag into the separation bag, the second centrifugationspeed allowing for the sedimentation of a volume of whole blood into afirst inner layer comprising plasma, a second outer layer comprising redblood cells, and an intermediate layer comprising platelets and whiteblood cells; and causing the component transferring means to transfer aplasma component from the separation bag into a second satellite bagwithin the compartment.

The control unit is further programmed for causing the componenttransferring means to transfer a cell component comprising platelets,white blood cells and red blood cells from the separation bag into thefirst satellite bag, when the plasma component has been transferred intothe second satellite bag.

The control unit is further programmed for causing the componenttransferring means to transfer a cell component comprising platelets andwhite blood cells from the separation bag into the first satellite bag,when the plasma component has been transferred into the second satellitebag.

The control unit is further programmed for causing the rotor to rotateat a rotation speed allowing a volume of storage solution for red bloodcells to drain, under centrifugation forces, into the separation bagfrom a third satellite bag connected to the separation bag and supportedby the support means, when the cell component comprising platelets andwhite blood cells has been transferred from the separation bag into thefirst satellite bag.

The control unit is further programmed for causing the componenttransferring means to transfer a cell component comprising red bloodcells suspended in the storage solution from the separation bag into thethird satellite bag.

The apparatus is for separating red blood cells from a volume of thawedglycerolized red blood cells, the volume of glycerolized red blood cellsbeing contained in a first satellite bag connected to a separation bag,to which at least a second satellite bag containing a volume of washsolution is connected; the apparatus further comprises a componenttransferring means for causing a transfer of a separated component intosatellite bags; a valve member for allowing or blocking a flow of liquidbetween a second satellite bag and a separation bag; and a control unitprogrammed for causing the rotor to rotate at the first rotation speedso that the volume of thawed glycerolized red blood cells drains, undercentrifugation forces, from a first satellite bag supported by thesupport means into a separation bag supported by the turntable; causingthe rotor to rotate at a second rotation speed when the volume of thawedglycerolized red blood cells has been transferred from the firstsatellite bag into the separation bag, the second sedimentation speedallowing for the sedimentation of a volume of thawed glycerolized redblood cells into a first inner layer comprising a supernatant and asecond outer layer comprising red blood cells; causing the componenttransferring means to transfer the supernatant from the separation baginto the first satellite bag; and causing the valve member to allow aflow of liquid between a second satellite bag supported by the supportmeans and the separation bag so that at least a predetermined portion ofthe volume of wash solution drains into the separation bag undercentrifugation forces.

According to the invention, a method is provided for separating a volumeof composite liquid into at least a first component and a secondcomponent using a rotor comprising a turntable for supporting aseparation bag and a central compartment for receiving at least onesatellite bag connected to the separation bag; the method comprises thesteps of providing a separation bag fluidly connected to at least onesatellite bag containing a volume of composite liquid; securing theseparation bag to the turntable; securing at least one satellite bagwithin the central compartment so that a lower portion thereof is closerto a rotation axis of the rotor than an upper portion thereof, which isconnected to the separation bag, and so that a content of at least onesatellite bag drains under centrifugation forces into the separation bagwhen the rotor is spun at a rotation speed; and spinning the rotor atthe rotation speed so as to transfer the volume of composite liquid fromthe at least one satellite bag into the separation bag.

Depending on the separation process, the liquid to be drained from theat least one satellite bag into the separation bag may be, for example,whole blood, thawed glycerolized red blood cells, a storage solution forred blood cell and a wash solution for red blood cells.

Other additional or alternative characteristics of this method are asfollows.

The method comprises the step of securing the at least one satellite bagwithin the central compartment so that the at least one satellite bag issubstantially located on one side of a plane containing a rotation axisof the rotor.

The composite liquid comprises red blood cells and is initiallycontained in the at least one satellite bag, and the rotation speed isselected so that the pressure generated within a satellite bagcontaining the composite liquid does not substantially exceed adetermined pressure threshold above which hemolysis is likely to occurwhen a satellite bag is spun at the rotation speed.

The determined pressure threshold is about 10 PSI.

The composite liquid comprises red blood cells and is initiallycontained in the at least one satellite bag, and the rotation speed isselected so that the shearing forces exerted on the composite liquid donot cause substantial hemolysis during the drainage of the compositeliquid from the at least one satellite bag into a separation bag.

The rotation speed is less than about 1800 RPM.

The rotation speed is selected so that the drainage under centrifugationforces of the liquid from the at least one satellite bag into theseparation bag is as quick as possible.

The rotation speed is about 1500 RPM.

The separation bag is connected to a first satellite bag containing thevolume of composite liquid and to a second satellite bag, the methodfurther comprising the steps of spinning the rotor at a rotation speedallowing for the sedimentation of the composite liquid into at least afirst component and a second component in the separation bag, after thecomposite liquid has drained from the first satellite bag into theseparation bag; transferring the first component into the secondsatellite bag, after the composite fluid has sedimented into the atleast first and second components; and transferring the second componentinto the first satellite bag, after the first component has beentransferred into the second satellite bag.

The composite liquid is blood, the first component comprises plasma, andthe second component comprises platelets and white blood cells.

The separation bag is further connected to a third satellite bagcontaining a volume of storage solution for red blood cells, and themethod further comprises the steps of securing the third satellite bagwithin the central compartment so that a lower portion thereof is closerto a rotation axis of the rotor than an upper portion thereof, which isconnected to the separation bag, and so that a content of the thirdsatellite bag drains under centrifugation forces into the separation bagwhen the rotor is spun at a rotation speed; allowing a flowcommunication between the third satellite bag and the separation bag,after the second component has been transferred into the first satellitebag; spinning the rotor at the rotation speed so as to transfer thevolume of storage solution from the third satellite bag into theseparation bag; mixing the storage solution in the separation bag with athird separated component comprising red blood cell and white bloodcells; and transferring a mixture of red blood cells, white blood cellsand storage solution from the separation bag into the third satellitebag.

The method further comprises the step of filtering the mixture of redblood cells, white blood cells and storage solution between theseparation bag and the third satellite bag so as to collect in the thirdsatellite bag a red blood cell component substantially devoid of whiteblood cells.

The volume of composite liquid is a volume of thawed glycerolized redblood cells, the first component comprises glycerol, and the secondcomponent comprises red blood cells.

The volume of thawed glycerolized red blood cells is contained in afirst satellite bag connected to a separation bag, to which a secondsatellite bag containing a volume of wash solution is connected. Themethod further comprises the steps of spinning the rotor at a rotationspeed allowing for the sedimentation, in the separation bag, of a firstinner layer comprising glycerol and a second outer layer comprising redblood cells, after the volume of thawed glycerolized red blood cells hasdrained under centrifugation forces from the first satellite bag intothe separation bag; transferring the glycerol from the separation baginto the first satellite bag; allowing a flow communication between thesecond satellite bag and the separation bag, after the glycerol has beentransferred from the separation bag into the first satellite bag; andspinning the rotor at a rotation speed allowing for the drainage of thewash solution from the second satellite bag into the separation bag soas to transfer at least one portion of the volume of the wash solutionfrom the second satellite bag into the separation bag.

The method further comprises the steps of mixing the wash solution inthe separation bag with the red blood cells, after the at least oneportion of the volume of the wash solution has drained into theseparation bag; spinning the rotor at a rotation speed allowing for thesedimentation, in the separation bag, of a first inner layer comprisingwash solution and a second outer layer comprising red blood cells; andtransferring the wash solution from the separation bag into the firstsatellite bag.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description and accompanying drawings, which are to beconsidered illustrative only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of first set of separation and collectionbags for cooperating with a separation apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of second set of separation and collectionbags for cooperating with a separation apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view, partly in cross-section along a diametralplane, of an embodiment of a separation apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view, along a diametral plane, of the rotor ofthe separation apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a rotor liner andbag cradle assembly fitting within the rotor of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the rotor liner and bag cradle assemblyof FIG. 4, in which a bag cradle is shown partially withdrawn;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the bag cradle of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross section view of a variant of the bag cradle of FIG. 7,along a vertical plane;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a bag holder fitting in the bag cradleof FIGS. 6 to 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a bag holder fitting in the bag cradleof FIGS. 6 to 8;

FIG. 11 is a top view of a rotor fitted with a second embodiment of arotor liner and bag cradle assembly;

FIGS. 12 is a perspective view of the rotor liner and bag cradleassembly of FIG. 11, in which a bag cradle is shown partially withdrawn;

FIGS. 13 is a perspective view of the rotor liner and bag cradleassembly of FIG. 11, in which a bag cradle is shown partially withdrawn;

FIGS. 14 is a perspective view of the rotor liner and bag cradleassembly of FIG. 11, in which a bag cradle is shown partially withdrawn;and

FIG. 15 is a cross section of a perspective view of a detail of theupper part of the rotor liner and bag cradle assembly of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the sake of clarity, the invention will be described with respect totwo specific uses, namely the separation of whole blood into threecomponents, and the washing of thawed glycerolized red blood cells. Itshould be understood however that these specific uses are exemplaryonly.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a set of bags adapted to the separation ofwhole blood into a plasma component essentially comprising plasma, afirst blood cell component essentially comprising mononuclear cells andplatelets, and a second blood cell component essentially comprising redblood cells. This bag set comprises a flexible separation bag 1 andthree flexible satellite bags 2, 3, 4 connected thereto. The separationbag 1 comprises an annular separation chamber 5 having a substantiallycircular outer edge 6 and an inner circular edge 7. The outer circularedge 6 and the inner circular edge 7 of the separation chamber 5 aresubstantially concentric. The separation bag 1 further comprises asemi-flexible disk-shaped connecting element 9 that is connected to theinner edge 7 of the annular chamber 5. The disk-shaped connectingelement 9 comprises a distribution channel 10 embedded therein, whichcommunicates through a passage 11 with the annular chamber 5. Thedistribution channel 10 substantially extends along an arc of circle.The disk-shaped connecting element 9 comprises a series of holes 12 forsecuring the separation bag 1 to the rotor of a centrifuge.

The first satellite bag 2 has two purposes and is successively used as ablood collection bag 2 and as a mononuclear cell/platelet component bag.The first satellite bag is intended for initially receiving a volume ofwhole blood from a donor (usually about 450 ml) before the separationprocess, and the mononuclear cell/platelet component during theseparation process. The first satellite bag 2 is flat, substantiallyrectangular, and comprises two reinforced ears at its upper cornershaving holes 13 for hanging the bag. It is connected to the separationbag 1 by a first transfer tube 14, fitted with a clamp 15. The firsttransfer tube 14 has a first end connected to the upper edge of thefirst satellite bag 2 and a second end connected to a first end of thedistribution channel 10. The first satellite bag 2 contains a volume ofanti-coagulant solution (typically about 63 ml of a solution of citratephosphate dextrose for a blood donation of about 450 ml). A plug 16removable from within the first satellite bag 2 (so-called “frangiblepin”, for example) blocks a liquid flow through the first transfer tube14 and prevents the anti-coagulant solution from flowing from the firstsatellite bag 2 into the separation bag 1.

A collection tube 17 is connected at one end to the upper edge of thefirst satellite bag 2 and comprises, at the other end, a needleprotected by a sheath 18. A frangible pin 19 removable from within thefirst satellite bag 2 plugs the downstream end of the collection tube 17and prevents the anti-coagulant solution from flowing out of the firstsatellite bag 2 through the collection tube 17.

The second satellite bag 3 is intended for receiving a plasma component.It is flat, substantially rectangular, and comprises two reinforced earsat its upper corners having holes 13 for hanging the bag. It isconnected by a second transfer tube 20 to the separation bag 1. Thesecond transfer tube 20, which is fitted with a clamp 15, has a firstend connected to the upper edge of the second satellite bag 3 and asecond end connected to a second end of the distribution channel 10.

The third satellite bag 4 is intended for receiving a red blood cellcomponent. It is flat, substantially rectangular, and comprises tworeinforced ears at its upper corners having holes 13 for hanging thebag. It is connected by a third transfer tube 21 to the separation bag1. The third transfer tube 21 has a first end connected to the upperedge of the third satellite bag 4 and a second end that is connected tothe distribution channel 10 so as to face the passage 11 between thedistribution channel 10 and the separation chamber 5. It comprises twosegments respectively connected to the inlet and the outlet of aleuko-reduction filter 22. The tube segment connected to the separationbag 1 is fitted with a clamp 15. The filter 22 may be, for example, afilter of the type RC2D manufactured by Pall Corporation. Such a filtercomprises a disk-shaped casing to which radial inlet and outlet portsare connected, in diametral opposition. The third satellite bag 4contains a volume of storage solution for red blood cells. A plug 23removable from within the third satellite bag 4 (so-called “frangiblepin”, for example) blocks a liquid flow through the third transfer tube21 and prevents the storage solution from flowing from the thirdsatellite bag 4 into the separation bag 1.

Variants of the separation bag 1 may include a separation chamber 5having an outer circular edge 6 and/or an inner circular edge 7 that areeccentric; a separation chamber 5 that comprises a radial wall extendingfrom the inner edge 7 to the outer edge 6 so that the chamber 5, insteadof being annular, is C-shaped; and a separation chamber 5 having anyshape including an inner edge and an outer edge (the inner edge beingcloser to the axis of the rotor of a centrifuge than the outer edge,when the separation bag is mounted on the rotor of a centrifuge). Forexample, the chamber can be in the shape of a portion of annulusdelimited by two lateral radial edge or a rectangular shape. In thisvariant, all the satellite bags may be connected to the inner edge ofthe separation bag.

Also the separation bag 1 can be shaped so as to fit either on a flatsupport surface or on a frusto-conical support surface of the rotor of acentrifuge.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a set of bags adapted to the washing ofthawed glycerolized red blood cells. This bag set comprises a separationbag 1 and three satellite bags 2, 3, 4.

The separation bag 1 is identical to the separation bag shown in FIG. 1,save for fact that the separation chamber 5 comprises a funnel likeextension 8 protruding outwardly from its outer edge 6 for helpingevacuate a content of the separation chamber 5 into the third satellitebag 4.

The first satellite bag 2 contains a volume of thawed glycerolized redblood cells (for example, 300 ml). It is identical to the secondsatellite bag 2 shown in FIG. 1, except that it is not pre-connected tothe separation bag 1. It is connected through a sterile connectionprocess to the first transfer tube 14 just before processing in thecentrifuge.

The second satellite bag 3 contains a volume blood washing solution (forexample, 700 ml for a volume of glycerolized red blood cells of 300 ml).A plug 25 removable from within (so-called “frangible pin”, for example)blocks a liquid flow through the third transfer tube 20 and prevents theblood washing solution from flowing from the second satellite bag 3 intothe separation bag 1.

The third satellite bag 4 is intended for receiving washed red bloodcells. It is identical to the third satellite bag 4 shown in FIG. 1. Thethird transfer tube 21 connecting the third satellite bag 4 to theseparation bag 1 is not fitted with a leuko-reduction filter.

The bags and the tubes of the first and second bag sets shown in FIGS. 1and 2 are all made of flexible plastic material appropriate to being incontact with blood and blood components.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show an embodiment of an apparatus for separating a volumeof composite liquid by centrifugation. The apparatus comprises acentrifuge adapted for receiving either set of separation bags shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, and a component transferring means for causing thetransfer of separated components into the satellite bags.

The centrifuge comprises a rotor that is supported by a bearing assembly30 allowing the rotor to rotate about a vertical central axis 31. Therotor comprises a cylindrical rotor shaft 32, 33; a central compartment34 for containing satellite bags, which is connected to the rotor shaft32, 33 at the upper end thereof; a support member 87 (not shown in FIGS.3 and 4) for supporting at least one satellite bag in a determinedposition within the central compartment 34; and a circular turntable 35for supporting a separation bag, which is connected to the compartment34 at the upper end thereof, with the central axes of the rotor shaft31, 32, the compartment 34 and the turntable 35 coinciding with therotation axis 31.

The rotor shaft comprises a first upper portion 32 and a second lowerportion 33. The upper portion 32 of the shaft extends in part throughthe bearing assembly 30. A pulley 36 is connected to the lower end ofthe upper portion 32 of the shaft.

The centrifuge further comprises a motor 40 coupled to the rotor by abelt 41 engaged in a groove of the pulley 36 so as to rotate the rotorabout the central vertical axis 31.

The separation apparatus further comprises a first, second and thirdpinch valve members 42, 43, 44 that are mounted on the rotor forselectively blocking or allowing a flow of liquid through a flexibleplastic tube, and selectively sealing and cutting a plastic tube. Eachpinch valve member 42, 43, 44 comprises an elongated cylindrical bodyand a head having a groove that is defined by a stationary upper jaw anda lower jaw movable between an open and a closed position, the groovebeing dimensioned so that one of the transfer tubes 14, 20, 21 of thebag sets shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 can be snuggly engaged therein when thelower jaw is in the open position. The elongated body contains amechanism for moving the lower jaw and it is connected to a radiofrequency generator that supplies the energy necessary for sealing andcutting a plastic tube. The pinch valve members 42, 43, 44 are mountedat the periphery of the central compartment 34 so that theirlongitudinal axes are parallel to the central axis 31 of the rotor andtheir heads protrude above the rim of the compartment 34. The positionof the pinch valve members 42, 43, 44 with respect to the separation bag1 and the transfer tubes 14, 20 connected thereto when the separationbag 1 is mounted on the turntable 35 is shown in doted lines in FIGS. 1and 2. Electric power is supplied to the pinch valve members 42, 43, 44through a slip ring array 45 that is mounted around the lower portion 33of the rotor shaft.

The turntable 35 comprises a central frusto-conical portion 46, theupper, smaller edge of which is connected to the rim of the compartment34, an annular flat portion 47 connected to the lower, larger edge ofthe frusto-conical portion 46, and an outer cylindrical flange 48extending upwards from the outer periphery of the annular portion 47.The turntable 35 further comprises a vaulted circular lid 49 that issecured to the flange 48 by a hinge so as to pivot between an open and aclosed position. The lid 49 is fitted with a lock 51 by which it can beblocked in the closed position. The lid 49 comprises a large cut-out inits upper part that gives access to the central compartment 34 of therotor. The lid 49 has an annular interior surface that is so shapedthat, when the lid 49 is in the closed position, it defines with thefrusto-conical portion 46 and the annular flat portion 47 of theturntable 38 a frusto-conical annular compartment 53 having a radialcross-section that has substantially the shape of a parallelogram. Thefrusto-conical annular compartment 53, later the “separationcompartment”, is intended for containing the separation bag 1 shown inFIGS. 1 and 2.

The component transferring means comprises a squeezing system forsqueezing the separation bag within the separation compartment 53 andcausing the transfer of separated components into the satellite bags.The squeezing system comprises a flexible annular diaphragm 54 that isso shaped as to line the frusto-conical portion 46 and the annular flatportion 47 of the turntable 35, to which it is secured along its smallerand larger circular edges. The squeezing system further comprises ahydraulic pumping station 60 for pumping a hydraulic liquid in and outan expandable hydraulic chamber 55 defined between the flexiblediaphragm 54 and the turntable 35, via a duct 37 extending through therotor from the lower end of the lower portion 33 of the rotor shaft tothe turntable 35. The pumping station 60 comprises a piston pump havinga piston 61 movable in a hydraulic cylinder 62 fluidly connected via arotary fluid coupling 38 to the rotor duct 37. The piston 61 is actuatedby a stepper motor 63 that moves a lead screw 64 linked to the pistonrod. The hydraulic cylinder 62 is also connected to a hydraulic liquidreservoir 65 having an access controlled by a valve 66 for selectivelyallowing the introduction or the withdrawal of hydraulic liquid into andfrom a hydraulic circuit including the hydraulic cylinder 62, the rotorduct 37 and the expandable hydraulic chamber 55. A pressure gauge 67 isconnected to the hydraulic circuit for measuring the hydraulic pressuretherein.

The separation apparatus further comprises three sensors 56, 57, 58 fordetecting characteristics of the separation process occurring within aseparation bag when the apparatus operates. The three sensors 56, 57, 58are embedded in the lid 49 at different distances from the rotation axisof the rotor, a first sensor 56 being the farthest to the rotation axis,a third sensor 58 being the closest to the rotation axis and a secondsensor 57 occupying an intermediate position. When the lid 49 is closed,the three sensors 56, 57, 58 face the separation bag 1 as shown in FIGS.1 and 2. The first sensor 56 (later the “bag sensor”) is embedded in thelid 49 so as to be positioned over the separation chamber 5, at aboutone third of the width of the separation chamber from the inner edge 6thereof, and it is offset with respect to the passage 11 between theseparation chamber 5 and the distribution channel 10. The bag sensor 56is able to detect the presence or absence of a liquid in the separationchamber 5, as well as red blood cells in a liquid. The second sensor 57(later the “bay sensor”) is embedded in the lid 49 so as to bepositioned over the passage 11 between the separation chamber 5 and thedistribution channel 10. The bay sensor 57 is in the pathway of anycomponent flowing from the separation chamber 5 into the three satellitebags 2, 3, 4. The bay sensor 57 is able to detect the presence orabsence of a liquid in the distribution channel 10 as well as to detectred blood cells in a liquid. The third sensor 58 (later the “channelsensor”) is embedded in the lid 49 so as to be positioned over thedistribution channel 10. The channel sensor 58 is in the pathway of anycomponent flowing from the separation chamber 5 into the secondsatellite bag 3. The channel sensor 58 is able to detect the presence orabsence of a liquid in the distribution channel 10 as well as to detectred blood cells in a liquid. Each sensor 56, 57, 58 can comprise aphotocell including an infra-red LED and a photo-detector. Electricpower is supplied to the sensors 56, 57, 58 through the slip ring array45.

The separation apparatus further comprises a controller 70 including acontrol unit (microprocessor) and a memory for providing themicroprocessor with information and programmed instructions relative tovarious separation protocols and to the operation of the apparatus inaccordance with such separation protocols. In particular, themicroprocessor is programmed for receiving information relative to thecentrifugation speed(s) at which the rotor is to be rotated during thevarious stages of a separation process, and information relative to thevarious transfer flow rates at which separated components are to betransferred from the separation bag 1 into the satellite bags 2, 3, 4.The information relative to the various transfer flow rates can beexpressed, for example, as hydraulic liquid flow rates in the hydrauliccircuit, or as rotation speeds of the stepper motor 63 of the hydraulicpumping station 60. The microprocessor is further programmed forreceiving, directly or through the memory, information from the pressuregauge 67 and from the photocells 56, 57, 58 and for controlling thecentrifuge motor 40, the stepper motor 63, and the pinch valve members42, 43, 44 so as to cause the separation apparatus to operate along aselected separation protocol.

The rotor further comprises a rotor liner fitting within the centralcompartment 34, and a bag loader (or bag cradle) fitting within therotor liner, for receiving the satellite bags, the transfer tubes and aleuko-reduction filter and for holding the bags in a determinedposition. FIGS. 5 to 8 show a first embodiment of a rotor liner 79 and abag cradle 87. One of the functions of the bag cradle 87 is to serve asa bag loading means for loading/unloading at least one satellite baginto/from the central compartment 34 of the rotor. One of the functionsof the rotor liner 79 is to serve as a guiding means for guiding the bagcradle 87 within the central compartment 34 when the bag cradle 87 isinserted into and removed from the central compartment 34, and forpositioning the bag cradle 87 in a determined position within the rotor.

The rotor liner 79 comprises a container 120 having a bottom wall 80 anda lateral wall 81, and a flange 82 that is connected to the container120 slightly below the upper rim of the lateral wall 81.

The lateral wall 81 is substantially defined by a frustum of coneflaring upwards, which is intersected by a flat plane extending inparallel to the axis of the frustum of cone. The lateral wall 81 hastherefore a first portion that is a sector of a frustum of cone,connected to a second portion that is flat and has the shape of aparallelogram. The axis of the frustum of cone partially defining thefirst portion of the lateral wall 81 (which forms also a longitudinalaxis of the rotor liner 79) coincides with the rotation axis 31 of therotor. The angle of the frustum of cone is about 3 degrees. It could bemore open. However, the larger the angle, the smaller the spaceavailable inside the rotor liner 79 for storing satellite bags.

The upper rim of the lateral wall 81 is inwardly bent over about twothirds of its circumference so as to form a narrow circular lip 84underneath which loops of tubing can be placed. The lip 84 extends in aplane that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of therotor liner 79.

The flange 82 is annular and has the shape of a frustum of cone flaringdownwards at an angle of about 85 degrees. A series of rounded pins 83arranged on a circle protrude upwards from the flange 82. The size andthe location of the pins 83 correspond to the size and location of theholes 12 in the semi-flexible disk-shaped connecting element 9 of aseparation bag 1. The pins 83 help position the separation bag 1 on therotor, and prevent the separation bag 1 from moving with respect to therotor when the rotor is rotating. Along the flat portion of the lateralwall 81 of the rotor liner 79, the flange 82 comprises three alignedcylindrical apertures 85 that encroach in part on the adjacent flatwall. When the rotor liner 79 is fully inserted in the centralcompartment 34 of a rotor, the three pinch valve members 42, 43, 44extend through the apertures 85 so that the heads of the pinch valvemembers protrude above the flange 82. Three guiding elements 126, 128,129 of somewhat complex geometrical shapes protrude along the innerperiphery of the flange 82, partially surround the three apertures 85,and delimit three narrow gates 86 by which tubes engaged in the pinchvalve members 42, 43, 44 can be guided into the central compartment 34along determined directions.

The rotor liner 79 further comprises a support member for supporting atleast one satellite bag full of a liquid and holding it in such a waythat the content of the satellite bag is fully transferred into aseparation bag connected to the satellite bag when the rotor is rotatedat a selected speed. The support member is so designed that a satellitebag received therein has a lower portion that is closer to the rotationaxis 31 of the rotor that an upper portion thereof to which a transfertube is connected.

The support member generally comprises a portion of a wall that istilted with respect to the rotation axis 31 of the rotor. A satellitebag secured by an upper portion thereof to an upper part of the tiltedwall is pressed against the tilted wall by centrifugation forces duringrotation of the rotor so that a lower portion of the satellite bag iscloser to the axis of rotation than an upper portion thereof.

In the embodiment represented in FIGS. 5 to 8, the support membercomprises a cradle or bag loader 87 for loading and unloading at leastone satellite bag 2, 3, 4 into and from the central compartment 34. Thebag loader 87, which forms a removable part of the rotor liner 79,generally comprises an upper part comprising a securing means forremovably securing an upper portion of at least one satellite bag to thebag loader; a lower part comprising a receptacle for containing a lowerportion of at least one satellite bag; and an intermediate partconnecting the upper part to the lower part and exposing an intermediateportion of a satellite bag having an upper part secured to the upperpart of the bag loader and a lower part inserted in the receptacle.

In more details, the cradle 87 has a first outer, gutter-like, wall 88,which extends over the height of the rotor liner 79, and a second inner,gutter-like, wall 89, which extends from the bottom of the cradle overabout one third of the eighth of the rotor liner 79. The inner and outerwalls 88, 89 are connected along their lateral edges so that theconcavity of the inner wall 89 faces the concavity of the outer wall 88.The first outer wall 88 is a sub-sector of the sector of frusto-conicalwall that forms the first portion of the lateral wall 81 of the rotorliner 79. The cradle 87 has a longitudinal axis that coincides with thecentral axis of the frustum of cone that defines the inner surface ofthe outer wall 88. As mentioned above, the angle of this frustum of coneis about 3 degrees. When the cradle 87 is fully inserted in the centralcompartment 34 of a rotor, the longitudinal axis of the cradle 87coincides with the rotation axis 31 of the rotor. The second inner wall89 is a sector of a cylinder having a longitudinal axis parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the cradle 87. The dimensions of the two walls 88,89 and the distance between them is so selected that the distancebetween any point of the inner wall 89 to the longitudinal axis of thecradle 87 is less than the distance from the longitudinal axis to thepoint (recesses 94, 95) of the outer wall 88 where the inlet/outlet of asatellite bag secured to the outer wall 88 is located. This helps ensurethat satellite bags attached to a cradle are confined in an area of arotor where, under centrifugation forces, the whole content of asatellite can be transferred to a separation bag connected thereto. Thecradle 87 further comprises a bottom wall having a flat portion 90,perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, which is connected to the lowerrim of the second inner wall 89 (sector of cylinder) and a curved ogivalportion 91, which raises from the flat portion 90 to a point located ona median longitudinal axis of the first outer wall 88 (sector of frustumof cone), at about one fifth of the height of the cradle 87, from theflat bottom portion 90. In geometrical terms, the second portion 91 ofthe bottom of the cradle 87 results from the intersection of a frustumof cone and a cylinder having perpendicular axes. The second inner wall89, the lower portion of first outer wall 88 that is connected to thesecond inner wall 89, and the bottom wall 90, 91 connected thereto, forma receptacle 96 for a lower portion of satellite bags attached to thecradle 87. This receptacle facilitates the insertion of the cradle 87within the central compartment 34 of a rotor by preventing the lowerportion of the satellite bags from interacting with the inner surface ofthe rotor liner 79.

The cradle 87 further comprises a securing means in its upper part,including two lateral recesses 92 opening on its inner surface, forremovably receiving and locking the ends of complementary lockingelements of a bag holder 100 to be described later. A guide 93, in theform of a narrow tongue, extends from the bottom of each recess 92towards the lateral edges of the cradle 87 for helping set the bagholder 100 in place. Between the two locking recesses 92, the cradle 87comprises two other recesses 94, 95 for accommodating the end oftransfer tubes embedded in an upper portion of a satellites bag.

As shown in FIG. 8, a variant of the cradle 87 comprises a first outerlateral wall 88 having an uneven thickness, the outer side of the wall88 being cylindrical, and the inner side of the wall 88 beingfrusto-conical. This is the inner surface that provides the tiltedsupport for a bag allowing for the outward transfer of its content undercentrifugation forces.

As a removable part of the rotor liner 79, the cradle 87 performs asecond function, besides enabling the transfer, under centrifugationforces, of the content of a bag secured thereto to the periphery of arotor. As mentioned above, this second function is a loading function,which, in particular, makes it possible for an operator having twocradles at his disposal to install a second set of bags in a secondcradle when a first cradle supporting a first set of bags is spun in acentrifuge, and to load the second cradle in the centrifuge as soon asthe first cradle has been removed therefrom after the content of thefirst set of bags has been processed. This is with respect to thissecond function that the inner wall 89 of the cradle 87 is helpful.First, because the inner wall 89 is substantially smaller than theopposite outer wall 88, it allows for an easy insertion and arrangementof the lower portion of satellite bags into the bottom area of thecradle 87 (receptacle 96); it also allows for an easy, lateralarrangement of the satellite bags, transfer tubes and, as the case maybe, leuko-reduction filter, within the cradle 87; and it allows for aneasy, lateral engagement of the pegs 108, 109 of a bag holder 100 intothe recesses 92 in the upper part of the outer wall 88 (all thesemanipulations would be more difficult, had the second inner wall 89 thesame height as the first outer wall 88). Second, when a set of satellitebags is secured to the cradle 87 by the bag holder 100, the lower partof the bags are contained in the receptacle 96 defined by the outer wall88, the inner wall 89, and the bottom wall 90, 91 of the cradle 87 sothat the loading of the satellite bags into the rotor liner 89 isstraight and can not be impeded by the satellite bags rubbing on theinner surface of the rotor liner 87.

The bag holder 100 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 has two main functions.First, it is used during the manufacture and shipping of the bag setsrepresented in FIGS. 1 and 2 to help assemble the bags together and keepthem in a fixed position with respect to each other during sterilizationand shipping so that the transfer tubes form large loops and do notkink. Second, the bag holder 100 is used for securing the satellite bags2, 3, 4 to the cradle 87 in a determined position during the operationof the centrifuge.

The bag-holder 100 comprises an elongated flat body 101 in the middle ofwhich a flat U-shaped handling appendage 102 is connected so as toprotrude upwards when the bag-holder 100 is mounted in the cradle 87.The elongated flat body 101 is fitted on both sides A and B with twoparallel gutter-like guides 103, 104 that are perpendicular to alongitudinal axis of the elongated flat body 101 and extend in a centralportion of the elongated flat body 101, substantially in alignment withthe lateral edges of the U-shaped handling appendage 102, respectively.When the bag holder 100 is secured to the cradle 87, the elongated flatbody 101 is substantially perpendicular and the gutter-like guides 103,104 are substantially parallel to the rotation axis 31 of the rotor. Thegutter-like guides 103, 104 are so dimensioned that a portion oftransfer tube 14, 20, 21 or a needle sheath 18 can be snuggly engagedtherein.

The bag-holder 100 further comprises a hanging means in the form of afirst couple of pegs 107, 108 connected to the elongated flat body 101for hanging at least one satellite bag 2, 3, 4 in the cradle 87. Thepegs 107, 108 extend perpendicularly from the side A of the elongatedflat body 101. The distance between the two pegs 107, 108 issubstantially the same as the distance between the holes 13 in the earsof the satellite bags 2, 3, 4. The cross-section of the pegs 107, 108substantially fits in the holes 13.

The pegs 107, 108 are also used to secure the bag holder 100 to thecradle 87. To this end, the distance between the two pegs 107, 108 issubstantially the same as the distance between the two locking recesses92, 93 in the upper part of the cradle 87. Also, the tip of each peg107, 108 is fitted with a locking element 109, 110 that can removablylock within a locking recess 92, 93 of the cradle 87. Each lockingelement 109, 110 is comprised of a plate having rounded ends, which isperpendicularly connected to the corresponding pegs 107, 108.

The bag-holder 100 further comprises a second couple of pegs 111, 112connected to the elongated flat body 101 for releasably securing aseparation bag 1 and, as the case may be, a satellite bag 2, 3, 4thereto. The pegs 111, 112 extend perpendicularly from the side B of theelongated flat body 101 along the same axis as the pegs 107, 108. Thetips of the pegs 111, 112 are fitted with retaining elements 113, 144for preventing a satellite bag engaged on the pegs from escapingtherefrom during centrifugation of the bag assembly. Overall, the secondcouple of pegs 111, 112 is identical to the first couple of pegs 107,108 save for the length of the pegs, which is longer in the first couplethan in the second couple.

It results from the respective arrangement of the elongated flat body101 and the first and second couple of pegs 106, 107, 111, 112 thatproduct bags 2, 3, 4 engaged on the pegs occupy a determined position inthe central compartment 34 of a rotor when the cradle 87 is assembled tothe remaining part of the rotor liner 79. Moreover, when the rotorstarts rotating, a satellite bag full of liquid mounted in the cradle 87by means of the first couple of pegs 106, 107 is stuck by centrifugationforces onto the frusto-conical wall 88 and the rounded bottom part 91 ofthe cradle 87 so that the upper part of the bag is farther apart fromthe rotation axis 31 of the rotor than the lower part of the bag. Thanksto this disposition, when the transfer tube connecting the satellite bagto the separation bag is open and the rotation speed is high enough, theliquid initially contained in the satellite bag wholly drains into theseparation bag.

FIGS. 11 to 15 show a second embodiment of a rotor liner 79 and bagcradle 87, which, although fulfilling substantially the same functionsas the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, comprises structuralvariants and additional features.

The rotor liner 79 comprises a container 120 including two sections ofcylindrical walls 121, 122 that do not have the same curvature. Therotor liner has a longitudinal axis to which the central axes of the twosections of cylindrical walls 121, 122 are parallel. Two elongated walls123 connect the sections of the cylindrical walls 121, 122 by theirlateral edges. In other words, the container 120 has a composite crosssection comprising a first arc of circle of larger diameter and a secondarc of circle of smaller diameter, the two arcs of circle having theirconcavities facing each other and being connected together at both endsby two substantially straight lines. The walls of the container 120 aresubstantially parallel to the axis of rotation 31 of the rotor, when therotor liner 79 is engaged in the central compartment 34 of the rotor.

The rotor liner 79 comprises a frusto-conical flange 82 that isconnected to the upper rim of the container 120 so that the flange 82flares downwards. The section of the flange 82 that is adjacent thecurved wall 121 of smaller curvature comprises three cylindricalapertures 85 whose central axes are coplanar and parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the container 120. When the rotor liner 79 is fullyinserted in the central compartment 34, the three pinch valve members42, 43, 44 extend through the three apertures 85 and protrude above theflange 82 so as to expose their respective grooves and allow an easyinsertion of a transfer tube 14, 15, 20 therein.

The rotor liner 79 further comprises six guiding elements 125 to 130 ofsomewhat complex geometrical shape protruding along the inner peripheryof the section of the flange 82 that is adjacent to the curved wall 121of smaller curvature. The main purpose of the guiding elements 125 to130, which partially surround the three apertures 85 (i.e. the pinchvalve members 42, 43, 44), is to orient the transfer tubes 14, 20, 21within the central compartment 34 so that they form large bendsgenerally following the inner surface of the container 120 between thepinch valves member 42, 43, 44 and the top of the satellite bagsattached to the upper part of the cradle 87. It results from thisarrangement that the transfer tubes and their content are subjected tosubstantially even centrifugation forces when the rotor rotates, whichfacilitates an optimal flow of liquid through the transfer tubes duringrotation of the rotor.

A first guiding element 125 comprises a curved guiding wall that extendsalong a portion of the periphery of the container 120, above the flange82, between the aperture 85 for the first pinch valve member 42 and afirst end of the curved wall 121 of smaller curvature. In other words,one end of the guiding wall 125 abuts a bag cradle 87 engaged in therotor liner 79 and the other end is adjacent to the inner surface of thecylindrical aperture 125 through which the first pinch valve member 42extends.

A second guiding element 126 partially surrounds the aperture 85 for thefirst pinch valve member 42 and the aperture 85 for the second pinchvalve member 43. The first and second guiding elements 125, 126 definebetween them a slot parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rotor liner79, through which a transfer tube 14 engaged in the first pinch valvemember 42 can extend and is directed towards the inner surface of therotor liner 79.

A third guiding element 127 comprises a guiding wall that extends inparallel to a portion of the guiding wall 125, inside the rotor liner79. The first and third guiding elements 125, 127 define between eachother a groove in which a transfer tube 14 engaged in the first pinchvalve member 42 can be inserted so as to follow the inner surface of therotor liner 79.

A fourth guiding element 128 partially surrounds the aperture 85 for thesecond pinch valve member 43 and the aperture 85 for the third pinchvalve member 44. The second and fourth guiding elements 126, 128 definebetween them a slot parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rotor liner79, through which a transfer tube 21 engaged in the second pinch valvemember 43 can extend and is directed towards the inner surface of therotor liner 79.

A fifth guiding element 129 partially surrounds the aperture 85 for thethird pinch valve member 44 and extends to a second end of the curvedwall 121 of smaller curvature of the container 120. The fourth and fifthguiding elements 128, 129 define between them a slot parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the rotor liner 79, through which a transfer tube20 engaged in the third pinch valve member 44 can extend and is directedtowards the inner surface of the rotor liner 79.

A sixth guiding element 130 comprises a guiding wall that extends inparallel to a portion of the third guiding element (guiding wall 127),closer to the inside of the rotor liner 79. The third and sixth guidingelements 127, 130 define between them a groove in which a transfer tube21 engaged in the second pinch valve member 43 and a transfer tube 20engaged in the third pinch valve member 44 can be engaged so as toconverge towards the inner surface of the rotor liner 79.

The bag cradle or loader 87 fits within the rotor liner 79, in which itcan freely move along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe rotor liner 79. The container 120, whose cross section is constant,forms a guiding member for the cradle 87 whose larger cross-sectionsubstantially corresponds to the inner cross-section of the rotor liner79. The cradle 87 has a longitudinal axis that coincides with the axisof rotation 31 of a rotor, when the bag cradle is fully engaged in thecentral compartment 34 of a rotor lined by the rotor liner 79.

The cradle 87 comprises a first, gutter-like, outer wall 88 having aheight that substantially corresponds to the depth of the rotor liner79. A U-shaped rim 140 is connected to the top of the first wall 88,which projects inwardly a lip 84 underneath which loops of transfertubes can be placed or attached. As apparent in FIG. 15, the first wall88 has an outer surface that is cylindrical, and an inner surface thatis, save for a small upper cylindrical portion, frusto-conical. Theinner frusto-conical surface has a central axis that coincides with thelongitudinal axis of the cradle 87, which, in turn coincides with theaxis of rotation 31 of a rotor, when the bag cradle is fully engaged inthe central compartment 34 of a rotor lined by the rotor liner 79. Theinner frusto-conical surface is therefore inclined with respect to theaxis of rotation 31 of a rotor, when the bag cradle 87 is fully engagedin the central compartment 34 of a rotor.

The cradle further includes a second, gutter-like wall 89 having aheight that is about one fourth of the height of the first wall 88. Thesecond wall 89 is connected to the lower part of the first wall 88, withtheir respective concavities facing each other, so as to form a closedwall. The dimensions of the two walls 88, 89 and the distance betweenthem is so selected that the distance between any point of the innerwall 89 to the longitudinal axis of the cradle 87 is less than thedistance from the longitudinal axis to the point (recesses 94, 95) ofthe outer wall 88 where the inlet/outlet of a satellite bag secured tothe outer wall 88 is located.

The cradle further includes a flat bottom wall 90 connected to bothfirst and second walls 88, 89 so as to form a receptacle 96 forcontaining a lower portion of satellite bags, and, as the case may be, afilter.

The cradle 87 also comprises means for securing the upper part of astack of satellite bags inside and to the upper part of the firstgutter-like wall 88. These securing means comprises two oblong holes 92(locking means), in which the pegs 107, 108 of a bag holder 100 can beengaged. The length of the oblong holes 92 is a little less than thelength of the rounded plates 109, 110 (complementary locking means)connected to the tip of the pegs 107, 108. The rounded plates 109, 110are slightly flexible and can therefore be forced through the oblongholes 92, so as to anchor the bag holder 100 to the cradle 87. Aftercompletion of a separation process, the bag holder can be disengagedfrom the cradle 87 by simply pressing onto the oblong plates 109, 110from outside of the cradle 87.

Between the locking means (oblong holes 92), the outer gutter-like wall88 of the cradle 87 comprises, on its inner side, a U-shaped recess 94for accommodating the end of one or two tubes embedded in the upper partof a satellite bag.

The cradle 87 also comprises a latching means by which it can be lockedto the rotor liner 79 in a satellite bag loading/unloading position, inwhich the receptacle 96 forming the bottom part of the cradle 87 isbelow the flange 82, and the remaining part of the cradle 87 is abovethe flange 82.

The latching means comprises an elongated arm or latch 150, the upperend of which is hinged by a pivot 151 to the outer side of the outerwall 88 of the cradle 87, so as to extend in parallel to the medianlongitudinal axis of the wall 88. The latch is enclosed in a housing 152that is so dimensioned as to allow the latch 150 to move between a firstinward position, in which it is the closest to the outer wall 88, and asecond outward position, in which it is the farthest from the outer wall88. The latch 150 is spring-biased so as to return to the secondposition when not depressed. The housing 152 comprises a window 153 thatexposes a corrugated outer portion 154 of the latch 150 that allows auser to press on the latch 150 and to move it from the second positioninto the first position. The latch 150 comprises a locking step 155 thatprotrudes outwards at its lower end.

The latching means also comprises an elongated flat U-shaped casing 156connected to the wall 122 of larger curvature of the rotor liner 89, sodimensioned as to accommodate the latch 150 and its housing 152 and tokeep the latch 150 slightly depressed. The casing 156 also helps guidethe movement of the cradle 87 within the rotor liner 79 along adirection parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the rotor liner 79.The latching means also comprises a recess or catch 157 within the wall122 of the cradle 87, at the level of the flange 82, which is slightlylarger than the step 155 of the latch 150 so that the step 155 snapsinto the catch 157 when the cradle 87 is lifted to the point that thelocking step 155 faces the catch 157.

When the cradle 87 is locked in the upper part of the rotor liner 89, itis easy to access the cradle 87 for securing thereto or removingtherefrom a stack of satellite bags held together by a bag holder 100.If desired, this bag loading/unloading manipulation can also beperformed outside of the separation apparatus, since the cradle 87 canbe removed from the rotor liner 79 by simply depressing the latch 150while lifting the cradle 87.

Variants of the rotor described above are as follows.

The cross-section of the gutter-like wall 88 of the cradle or bag loader87, which, in the embodiments shown in the figures, has a semi circularcross-section, could have any concave shape adapted to partiallysurround a stack of satellite bags; for example it could be U-shaped ora sector of an ellipse.

The portion of wall 88 that is tilted with respect to the rotation axis31 of the rotor and forms a part of the support member for satellitebags can be integral with a wall of the central compartment 34.

The rotor liner 79 can be an integral part of the rotor or it can be aremovable liner fitting within the central compartment 34 of the rotor.

The cradle 87, instead of being a removable part of the rotor liner 79,can be integral with the rest of the rotor liner 79.

The internal surface of the cradle 87 (or, as a variant, of the centralcompartment 34) onto which a satellite bag full of liquid is pressed bycentrifugal forces when the rotor is rotated can be substantially flatand tilted at an angle with respect to the rotation axis of the rotorallowing for a complete drainage of the satellite bag when the rotor isrotated.

The cradle 87 (or the central compartment 34 if the latter is to includethe tilted wall) can be fitted with two spaced apart pegs or hooksprotruding inwards from an upper part thereof; these alternative pegs orhooks would be used to hang the satellite bags within the rotor insteadof using the bag holder 100.

An example of a first separation protocol aiming at the preparation ofthree blood components, namely a plasma component essentially comprisingplasma, a first blood cell component essentially comprising mononuclearcells and platelets, and a second blood cell component essentiallycomprising red blood cells, is explained below. This first separationprotocol does not require the use of the channel sensor 58. Theoperation of the separation apparatus along the first separationprotocol is as follows.

First stage (first protocol): a bag set as shown in FIG. 1, in which asatellite bag contains a volume of whole blood, is set in place in therotor of a centrifuge (as shown in FIGS. 3, 4).

At the onset of the first stage, the first satellite bag 2 of the bagset of FIG. 1 contains a volume of anti-coagulated whole blood (usuallyabout 500 ml). The collection tube 17 has been sealed and cut. Theclamps 15 on the transfer tubes 14, 20, 21 connecting the satellite bags2, 3, 4 to the separation bag 1 are closed. The frangible pin 16blocking communication between the first satellite bag 2 and theseparation bag 1 is broken along with the frangible pin 23 blockingcommunication between the third satellite bag 4 and the separation bag1. The first satellite bag 2 and the third satellite bags 4 are engagedon the first couple of pegs 107, 108 of a bag holder 100 (as shown inFIGS. 9-10), the first satellite bag 2 being engaged first. The secondsatellite bag 3 is engaged on the second couple of pegs 111, 112. Thebag holder 100 is mounted in a cradle 87 (as shown in FIGS. 6-8, and12-15), as a result of which the first satellite bag 2 is adjacent tothe inner surface of the cradle 87. The cradle 87 is then fully insertedinto the central compartment 34 of the centrifuge, in which it is guidedby the rotor liner 79. The satellite bags 2, 3, 4 are then substantiallylocated on one side of a plane containing the rotation axis of the rotor31. The collection bag 1 is laid on the turntable 35 and the pins 83 onthe flange 82 of the rotor liner 79 are engaged in the holes 12 of thedisk-shaped connecting element 9 of the separation bag 1. The firsttransfer tube 14 connecting the first satellite bag 2 to the separationbag 1 is engaged in the first pinch valve member 42, the second transfertube 20 connecting the second satellite bag 3 to the separation bag 1 isengaged in the third pinch valve member 44, and the third transfer tube21 connecting the third satellite bag 4 to the separation bag 1 isengaged in the second pinch valve member 43. The clamps 15 on thetransfer tubes 14, 20, 21 connecting the satellite bags 2, 3, 4 to theseparation bag 1 are opened. The lid 49 of the rotor is closed.

Second stage (first protocol): the anti-coagulated whole blood containedin the first satellite bag 2 is transferred into the separation bag 1.

At the onset of the second stage, the first pinch valve member 42 isopen and the second and third pinch valve members 43, 44 are closed. Therotor is set in motion by the centrifuge motor 40 and its rotation speedincreases steadily until it reaches a first centrifugation speed (e.g.about 1500 RPM) that is so selected

-   -   to be high enough to cause the transfer, under centrifugation        forces, of the content of the first satellite bag 2 into the        separation bag 1;    -   to be high enough to cause the whole transfer to happen in the        shorter period of time;        while, at the same time,    -   to be low enough not to cause pressure within the first        satellite bag 2 to substantially exceed a determined pressure        threshold above which hemolysis would occur; and    -   to be low enough not to generate shearing forces in the flow of        blood entering the separation bag 1 that would cause hemolysis.

It has been determined that the pressure threshold above which hemolysisoccurs in the satellite bag 2 is about 10 PSI, and that the maximumrotation speed at which such pressure threshold is not reached and theshearing forces in the blood flow entering the separation bag do notcause hemolysis is about 1800 RPM. At a rotation speed of about 1500RPM, it takes about one minute for transferring about 500 ml ofanti-coagulated blood from the satellite bag 2 into the separation bag1.

If the bag photocell or sensor 56 has not detected red blood cellswithin a predetermined period of time following the start of thecentrifugation process, the control unit 70 causes the rotor to stop andan alarm to be emitted. This could happen in particular if the frangiblepin 16 has not been broken or if the clamp 15 on the first transfer tube14 has not been opened.

Third stage (first protocol): the blood within the separation chamber issedimented to a desired level.

At the onset of this stage, the pinch valve members 42, 43, 44 areclosed. The rotor is rotated at a second, high centrifugation speed (forexample, about 3200 RPM) for a predetermined period of time (forexample, about 220 seconds) that is selected so that, whatever thehematocrit of the whole blood initially transferred in the separationbag 1, the blood sediments therein at the end of the predeterminedperiod to a point where the hematocrit of the outer annular red bloodcell layer is about 90 and the inner annular plasma layer issubstantially devoid of cells. In more details, at the outcome of thissedimentation stage, the separations bag 1 exhibits four layers: a firstinner layer mainly comprising plasma, a second intermediate layer mainlycomprising platelets, a third intermediate layer mainly comprisingmononuclear cells (lymphocytes and monocytes), and a fourth outer layermainly comprising red blood cells (granulocytes remain embedded in themost inner layer of red blood cells).

Fourth stage (first protocol): a plasma component is transferred intothe first satellite bag 2.

At the onset of this stage, the pinch valve members 42, 43, 44 areclosed. The rotor is rotated at the same high centrifugation speed as inthe sedimentation stage. After a predetermined period of time after thebag sensor 56 has stopped detecting red blood cells, which can happenbefore the end of the predetermined sedimentation period, the thirdpinch valve member 44 controlling the access to the second satellite bag3 is opened and the pumping station 60 is actuated so as to pumphydraulic liquid at a constant flow rate (for example, about 220 ml/min)into the hydraulic chamber 55. The expanding hydraulic chamber 55squeezes the separation bag 1 and causes the transfer of plasma into thesecond satellite bag 3. The pumping station 60 is stopped and the thirdpinch valve member 44 is closed after a predetermined period of time haselapsed following the detection of red blood cells by the bay sensor 57.A small volume of plasma (for example, about 5 ml) remains in theseparation bag 1.

The transfer flow rate of the plasma component (which is directlyrelated to the flow rate of the hydraulic fluid) is selected to be ashigh as possible without disturbing the platelet layer so as to avoidcontaminating the plasma component with platelets.

Fifth stage (first protocol): a platelet/mononuclear cell component istransferred into the first satellite bag 2.

The fifth stage can start as soon as the third pinch valve member 44 isclosed at the end of the fourth stage. At the onset of this fifth stage,the pinch valve members 42, 43, 44 are closed. The rotor is rotated atthe same high centrifugation speed as previously. The first pinch valvemember 42 controlling the access to the first satellite bag 2 is openedand the pumping station 60 is actuated so as to pump hydraulic liquid ata constant flow rate (for example, about 140 ml/min) into the hydraulicchamber 55. The expanding hydraulic chamber 55 squeezes the separationbag 1 and causes the transfer, into the first satellite bag 2, of aplatelet/mononuclear cell component comprising the residual volume ofplasma, the platelets, lymphocytes, monocytes and a small amount of redblood cells. The pumping station 60 is stopped and the first pinch valvemember 42 is closed after a predetermined volume has been transferredinto the first satellite bag 2, that is also after a predeterminedamount of time has elapsed for a given hydraulic liquid flow rate. Thispredetermined volume of platelet/mononuclear cell component depends inpart on the residual amount of plasma in the separation bag 1 at the endof the fourth stage. For example, when the residual volume of plasma inthe separation bag 1 is determined by the bay sensor 57, thepredetermined volume of the platelet/mononuclear cell component can beset at about between 10 and 15 ml, including about 5 ml of plasma andabout 5 ml of red bloods cells.

Sixth stage (first protocol): the storage solution for red blood cellscontained in the third satellite bag 3 is transferred into theseparation bag 1.

The sixth stage can start as soon as the third pinch valve member 42 isclosed at the end of the fifth stage. At the onset of this fifth stage,the pinch valve members 42, 43, 44 are closed. The rotor is rotated atthe same high centrifugation speed as previously. The second pinch valvemember 43 controlling the access to the third satellite bag 4 is opened,allowing the storage solution contained in the third satellite bag 3 toflow, under centrifugation forces, from the third satellite bag 3 intothe separation bag 1, through the filter 22. After a predeterminedperiod of time has elapsed after the opening of the second pinch valvemember 43, the rotor is sharply braked so that its rotation speeddecreases rapidly to a third, reduced speed (for example, 1500 RPM), soas to cause a suspension of the red blood cells contained in theseparation bag in the storage solution and lower the viscosity thereof.

Seventh stage (first protocol): a red blood cell component istransferred into the third satellite bag 4.

The seventh stage can start after a predetermined period of time haselapsed after the rotor rotates at the third rotation speed. At theonset of this stage the second pinch valve member 43 controlling theaccess to the third satellite bag 4 is open and the pinch valve members42, 44 are closed. The rotor rotates at the third rotation speed. Thepumping station 60 is actuated so as to pump hydraulic liquid at a firstflow rate into the hydraulic chamber 55 and consequently squeeze theseparation bag 1 so as to cause the transfer, through the filter 22, ofa red blood cell component into the third satellite bag 4. The firsttransfer flow rate of the red blood cell component (which is directlyrelated to the flow rate of the hydraulic fluid) is selected to be ashigh as possible without damaging the red blood cells (hemolysis). Whenthe pressure of the hydraulic liquid measured by the pressure gauge 67reaches a first high pressure threshold, the flow rate of the hydraulicliquid is decreased from the first flow rate to a second flow rate. Whenthe pressure of the hydraulic liquid measured by the pressure gauge 67reaches a second high pressure threshold, the flow rate of the hydraulicliquid is further decreased from the second flow rate to a third flowrate. The second and third transfer flow rates of the red blood cellcomponent are selected so that a maximal portion of the red blood cellcomponent is transferred into the third satellite bag 4. The white bloodcells (granulocytes and residual monocytes and lymphocytes) are trappedby the filter 22, so that the ultimate packed red blood cell componentin the third satellite bag 4 is substantially devoid of white bloodcells.

Eighth stage (first protocol): the centrifugation process is ended.

When a predetermined period of time (for example, about 30 seconds) haselapsed after the pressure of the hydraulic liquid has reached thesecond pressure threshold, the rotation speed of the rotor is decreaseduntil the rotor stops, the pumping station 60 is actuated so as to pumpthe hydraulic liquid from the hydraulic chamber 55 at a high flow rate(for example, about 800 ml/min) until the hydraulic chamber 55 is empty,and the three pinch valve members 42, 43, 44 are actuated so as to sealand cut the tubes 14, 20, 21.

A variant of the first protocol is as follows.

The bag set used does not comprise a third satellite bag and aleuko-reduction filter. When the plasma component has been transferredinto the second satellite bag 3, all the blood cells (platelets, whitecells and red blood cells), which remain in the separation bag 1, aretransferred into the first satellite bag 2.

An example of a second separation protocol aiming at washing a volume ofthawed glycerolized red blood cells, is explained below. This secondseparation protocol does not require the use of the second pinch valvemember 43 nor of the channel sensor 58. The operation of the separationapparatus along the second separation protocol is as follows:

First stage (second protocol): a bag set as shown in FIG. 2, in which asatellite bag contains a volume of thawed glycerolized red blood cells,is set in place in the rotor of a centrifuge (as shown in FIGS. 3, 4).

At the onset of the first stage, a first satellite bag 2 containing avolume of thawed glycerolized red blood cells has been connected to theseparation bag 1 by the first transfer tube 14. The second satellite bag3, which contains a volume of wash liquid, and the first satellite bag 2are engaged on the first couple of pegs 107, 108 of a bag holder 100 (asshown in FIGS. 9-10), the second satellite bag 3 being engaged first.The third satellite bag 4 is engaged on the second couple of pegs 111,112. The bag holder 100 is mounted in a cradle 87 (as shown in FIGS.6-8, and 12-15), as a result of which the first satellite bag 2 isadjacent to the inner surface of the cradle 87. The cradle 87 is thenfully inserted into the central compartment 34 of the centrifuge, inwhich it is guided by the rotor liner 79. The satellite bags 2, 3, 4 arethen substantially located on one side of a plane containing therotation axis of the rotor 31. The collection bag 1 is laid on theturntable 35 and the pins 83 on the flange 82 of the rotor liner 79 areengaged in the holes 12 of the disk-shaped connecting element 9 of theseparation bag 1. The first transfer tube 14 connecting the firstsatellite bag 2 to the separation bag 1 is engaged in the first pinchvalve member 42 and second transfer tube 20 connecting the secondsatellite bag 3 to the separation bag 1 is engaged in the third pinchvalve member 44. The clamp 15 on the second transfer tube 20 is opened.The frangible pin 16 blocking communication between the first satellitebag 2 and the separation bag 1 is broken, as well as the frangible pin25 blocking communication between the second satellite bag 3 and theseparation bag 1, so that communication is established between the twosatellite bags 2, 3 and the separation bag 1. The lid 49 of the rotor isclosed.

Second stage (second protocol): the volume of thawed glycerolized redblood cells contained in the first satellite bag 2 is transferred intothe separation bag 1.

This stage is substantially the same as the second stage of the firstprotocol. At the end of this stage the second satellite bag 3 containingthe wash solution is stuck onto the inner surface of the cradle 87 bythe centrifugal forces.

Third stage (second protocol): the thawed glycerolized red blood cellsare sedimented to a desired level.

This stage is substantially the same as the third stage of the firstprotocol. At the outcome of this sedimentation stage, the separation bag1 exhibits two layers: a first inner layer mainly comprising asupernatant (essentially glycerol) and a second outer layer comprisingred blood cells.

Fourth stage (second protocol): the glycerol is transferred into thefirst satellite bag 2.

This stage is substantially the same as the fourth stage of the firstprotocol, except that the glycerol is transferred into the firstsatellite bag 2, which initially contained the volume of thawedglycerolized red blood cells.

Fifth stage (second protocol): a first volume of wash liquid istransferred from the second satellite bag 3 into the separation bag 1.

At the onset of this stage, the first and third pinch valve members 42,44 are closed. The centrifuge rotates at the same high centrifugationspeed as during the sedimentation stage. The third pinch valve member 44is opened for a predetermined amount of time so as to allow thetransfer, under centrifugation forces, of a first volume of wash liquidinto the separation bag 1. For example, the third pinch valve member isopened for as long as it takes to transfer half of the volume of thewash liquid. Alternately, the third pinch valve member is opened untilthe bag sensor 56 detects a liquid in the separation bag 1.

Sixth stage (second protocol): the red blood cells are suspended in thefirst volume of wash liquid.

At the onset of this stage, the first and third pinch valve members 42,44 are closed. The rotor is sharply braked so that its rotation speeddecreases rapidly to a second, reduced speed so as to cause a suspensionof the red blood cells contained in the separation bag in the washliquid.

The next stages of the second protocol substantially repeat stages 3, 4,5, 6, 3, 4. The red blood cells suspended in the first volume of washliquid are separated by centrifugation, the supernatant (wash liquid andglycerol) is transferred into the first satellite bag 2 by the hydraulicstation 60, a second volume of wash liquid (e.g. the second remaininghalf of the initial volume) is transferred under centrifugal forces intothe separation bag 1, the red blood cells are suspended in the secondvolume of wash liquid and separated again by centrifugation, and thesupernatant is transferred into the first satellite bag 2 by thehydraulic station 60. What remain then in the separation bags 1 are thewashed red blood cells.

Seventh stage (second protocol): the centrifugation process is ended.

The rotation speed of the rotor is decreased until the rotor stops, thepumping station 60 is actuated so as to pump the hydraulic liquid fromthe hydraulic chamber 55 at a high flow rate (for example, about 800ml/min) until the hydraulic chamber 55 is empty, and the first and thirdpinch valve members 42, 44 are actuated so as to seal and cut the firstand second transfer tubes 14 and 20. The washed red blood cells remainin the separation bag 1.

Eighth stage (second protocol): the washed blood cells are transferredinto the third satellite bag 4.

The lid 49 of the rotor is opened and the separation bag 1 connected tothe third satellite bag 4 is removed from the rotor. The clamp 15 on thethird transfer tube 21 is opened. The frangible pin 23 blocking thecommunication between the third satellite bag 4 and the third transfertube 21 connected thereto is broken. The storage solution contained inthe third satellite bag 4 is allowed to flow by gravity into theseparation bag, in which it mixes with the washed red blood cells. Thecontent of the separation bag 1 is then allowed to flow by gravity intothe third satellite bag 4. The third transfer tube 21 is sealed and cut.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications can be made to the apparatus and method described herein.Thus, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to thesubject matter discussed in the specification. Rather, the presentinvention is intended to cover modifications and variations.

1. An apparatus for separating a volume of composite liquid contained ina separation bag into at least a first component and a second component,the separation bag being fluidly connected to at least a first satellitebag and a second satellite bag, the apparatus comprising: a centrifugehaving a rotor having a rotation axis and comprising a turntable forsupporting the separation bag; a central compartment for containing atleast the first satellite bag and the second satellite bag, and asupport means for supporting at least one of the first and secondsatellite bags within the central compartment so that the supportedsatellite bag is pressed against the support means by centrifugationforces during rotation of the rotor, and so that the supported satellitebag has a lower portion that is closer to the axis of rotation than anupper portion thereof by which the supported satellite bag is connectedto the separation bag so that a liquid contained in the supportedsatellite bag drains from the supported satellite bag into theseparation bag under centrifugation forces when the rotor is rotated ata first rotation speed.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe support means comprises an inclined wall that is inclined withrespect to the rotation axis so that a lower part of the wall is closerto the axis of rotation than an upper part of the wall, and thesupported satellite bag is secured by an upper portion thereof to theupper part of the inclined wall.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 2,further comprising a securing means for securing the upper portion ofthe supported satellite bag to the upper part of the inclined wall. 4.An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the securing means comprisesa first locking means integral with the inclined wall, which is designedto cooperate with a bag holder having an elongated body, comprising: ahanging means for removably holding the supported satellite bag by anupper part thereof; and a second locking means, complementary to thefirst locking means integral with the inclined wall, for removablysecuring the elongated body to the inclined wall.
 5. An apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the support means is so designed that thesatellite bag supported by the support means is substantially located onone side of a plane containing the rotation axis.
 6. An apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the support means comprises a cradlehaving a longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to therotation axis, wherein the cradle comprises a gutter-like wall having aninner concave surface facing the longitudinal axis, and wherein theconcave surface is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis sothat the supported satellite bag secured by a upper portion thereof,within the concave surface, to an upper part of the gutter-like wall,has a bottom portion that is closer to the longitudinal axis than anupper portion thereof.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein theinner concave surface of the gutter-like wall is generallyfrusto-conical.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the cradlefurther comprises a containing wall connected to a lower part of thegutter-like wall so as to form a closed wall surrounding a lower portionof the supported satellite bag secured to the gutter-like wall.
 9. Anapparatus according to claim 8, wherein a distance between thecontaining wall to the longitudinal axis is less than a distance fromthe longitudinal axis to a point of the gutter-like wall where an upperinlet/outlet of the supported satellite bag secured to the bag loadingmeans is located.
 10. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein thecradle further comprises a bottom wall connected to the gutter-like walland the containing wall so as to form a receptacle for receiving a lowerportion of the supported satellite bag, wherein the receptacle has adepth that is smaller than the length of the gutter-like wall.
 11. Anapparatus according to claim 10, wherein the bottom wall comprises acurved portion having a concavity oriented towards the rotation axis.12. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the cradle is removablefrom the central compartment.
 13. An apparatus according to claim 6,wherein the cradle is movable with respect to the central compartment sothat it can be lifted from a lower operational position in which theseparation bag and the satellite bags are to be spun by the rotor and anupper loading position in which the supported satellite bag is adaptedto be easily mounted in the cradle.
 14. An apparatus according to claim1, further comprising: a memory for storing at least a firstcentrifugation speed for the rotor, and a control unit programmed forreceiving the at least first centrifugation speed from the memory, andfor causing the rotor to rotate at the first centrifugation speed sothat a liquid contained in a satellite bag supported by the supportmeans drains from the satellite bag into the separation bag undercentrifugation forces.
 15. An apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising: at least one sensor for detecting a liquid in a separationbag at a distance from the rotation axis, and a control unit programmedfor receiving information from the at least one sensor; and causing therotor to stop rotating, when a separation bag is supported by theturntable and a satellite bag, containing a liquid, is supported by thesupport means within the central compartment and when the at least onesensor does not detect a liquid in the separation bag after a determinedperiod of time after the rotor has rotated at the first rotation speed.16. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: at least onesensor for detecting a liquid in a separation bag at a distance from therotation axis; at least one valve member mounted on the rotor forinteracting with a tube connecting the separation bag to a satellite bagand selectively allowing or blocking a fluid flow therethrough, and acontrol unit programmed for causing the at least one valve member toopen a tube connecting the separation bag to the satellite bagcontaining a liquid, the separation bag being supported by the turntableand the satellite bag being supported by the support means within thecentral compartment; causing the rotor to rotate at the first rotationspeed; causing the at least one valve member to close the tube after theat least one sensor detects a liquid.
 17. An apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the composite liquid comprises red blood cells and thefirst rotation speed is selected so that the pressure generated within asatellite bag containing a liquid does not substantially exceed adetermined pressure threshold above which hemolysis is likely to occurwhen a satellite bag supported by the support means is spun at the firstrotation speed.
 18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein thedetermined pressure threshold is about 10 PSI.
 19. An apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the composite liquid comprises red bloodcells and the first rotation speed is selected so that the shearingforces exerted in a composite liquid in the supported satellite bag donot cause substantial hemolysis during the transfer of the liquid fromthe satellite bag supported by the support means within the centralcompartment into a separation bag supported by the turntable.
 20. Anapparatus according to claim 17, wherein the first rotation speed isless than about 1800 RPM.
 21. An apparatus according to claim 17,wherein the first rotation speed is selected so that the transfer of acomposite liquid from the satellite bag to the separation bag is asquick as possible.
 22. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein thefirst rotation speed is about 1500 RPM.
 23. An apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprising a component transferring means for causing atransfer of a first component from the separation bag into the firstsatellite bag and the transfer of a second component from the separationbag into the second satellite bag.
 24. An apparatus according to claim1, for separating a volume of blood into plasma, platelet, white bloodcell and red blood cell components, the volume of blood being containedin the first satellite bag connected to the separation bag, to which atleast a second satellite bag is connected, wherein the apparatus furthercomprises: a component transferring means for causing a transfer of theseparated components into satellite bags; and a control unit programmedfor causing the rotor to rotate at the first rotation speed so that thevolume of blood drains, under centrifugation forces, from a firstsatellite bag supported by the support means into the separation bagsupported by the turntable; causing the rotor to rotate at a secondrotation speed when the volume of blood has been transferred from thefirst satellite bag into the separation bag, the second centrifugationspeed allowing for the sedimentation of a volume of whole blood into afirst inner layer comprising a plasma component, a second outer layercomprising a red blood cell component, and an intermediate layercomprising a platelet and white blood cell component; and causing thecomponent transferring means to transfer the plasma component from theseparation bag into a second satellite bag within the centralcompartment.
 25. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the controlunit is further programmed for causing the component transferring meansto transfer the platelet, white blood cell and red blood cell componentsfrom the separation bag into the first satellite bag, when the plasmacomponent has been transferred into the second satellite bag.
 26. Anapparatus according to claim 24, wherein the control unit is furtherprogrammed for causing the component transferring means to transfer theplatelet and white blood cell components from the separation bag intothe first satellite bag, when the plasma component has been transferredinto the second satellite bag.
 27. An apparatus according to claim 26,wherein the control unit is further programmed for causing the rotor torotate at a rotation speed allowing a volume of storage solution for redblood cells to drain, under centrifugation forces, into the separationbag from a third satellite bag connected to the separation bag andsupported by the support means, when the platelet and white blood cellcomponent has been transferred from the separation bag into the firstsatellite bag.
 28. An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein thecontrol unit is further programmed for causing the componenttransferring means to transfer red blood cell component suspended in thestorage solution from the separation bag into the third satellite bag.29. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the composite liquid is avolume of thawed glycerolized red blood cells, the volume ofglycerolized red blood cells being contained initially in the firstsatellite bag connected to the separation bag and wherein the secondsatellite bag contains a volume of wash solution, wherein the apparatusfurther comprises: a component transferring means for causing a transferof red blood cells separated from the glycerolized red blood cells intothe satellite bags; a valve member for allowing or blocking a flow ofliquid between the second satellite bag and the separation bag; and acontrol unit programmed for: causing the rotor to rotate at the firstrotation speed so that the volume of thawed glycerolized red blood cellsdrains, under centrifugation forces, from the first satellite bagsupported by the support means into a separation bag supported by theturntable; causing the rotor to rotate at a second rotation speed whenthe volume of thawed glycerolized red blood cells has been transferredfrom the first satellite bag into the separation bag, the secondsedimentation speed allowing for the sedimentation of a volume of thawedglycerolized red blood cells into a first inner layer comprising asupernatant and a second outer layer comprising red blood cells; causingthe component transferring means to transfer the supernatant from theseparation bag into the first satellite bag; and causing the valvemember to allow a flow of liquid between the second satellite bagsupported by the support means and the separation bag so that at least apredetermined portion of the volume of wash solution drains into theseparation bag under centrifugation forces.
 30. A method for separatinga volume of composite liquid into at least a first component and asecond component using a rotor comprising a turntable for supporting aseparation bag and a central compartment for receiving at least onesatellite bag connected to the separation bag, the method comprising thesteps of: providing the separation bag fluidly connected to the at leastone satellite bag containing a volume of composite liquid; securing theseparation bag to the turntable; securing the at least one satellite bagwithin the central compartment so that a lower portion thereof is closerto a rotation axis of the rotor than an upper portion thereof so that acontent of the at least one satellite bag drains under centrifugationforces into the separation bag when the rotor is spun at a rotationspeed; spinning the rotor at the rotation speed so as to transfer thevolume of composite liquid from the at least one satellite bag into theseparation bag.
 31. A method according to claim 30, further comprisingthe step of securing the at least one satellite bag within the centralcompartment so that the at least one satellite bag is substantiallylocated on one side of a plane containing the rotation axis of therotor.
 32. A method according to claim 30, wherein the composite liquidcomprises red blood cells and the composite liquid is initiallycontained in the at least one satellite bag, and the rotation speed isselected so that the pressure generated within the at least onesatellite bag containing the composite liquid does not substantiallyexceed a determined pressure threshold above which hemolysis is likelyto occur when the at least one satellite bag is spun at the rotationspeed.
 33. A method according to claim 32, wherein the determinedpressure threshold is about 10 PSI.
 34. A method according to claim 30,wherein the composite liquid comprises red blood cells and the compositeliquid is initially contained in the at least one satellite bag, and therotation speed is selected so that the shearing forces exerted on thecomposite liquid do not cause substantial hemolysis during the drainageof the composite liquid from the at least one satellite bag into theseparation bag
 35. A method according to claim 32, wherein the rotationspeed is less than about 1800 RPM.
 36. A method according to the claim30, wherein the rotation speed is selected so that the drainage undercentrifugation forces of the content from the at least one satellite baginto the separation bag is as quick as possible.
 37. A method accordingto claim 36, wherein the rotation speed is about 1500 RPM.
 38. A methodaccording to claim 30, wherein the at least one satellite bag is thefirst satellite bag and the separation bag is connected to the firstsatellite bag containing the volume of composite liquid and to a secondsatellite bag, the method further comprising the steps of: spinning therotor at a rotation speed allowing for the sedimentation of thecomposite liquid into at least a first component and a second componentin the separation bag, after the composite liquid has drained from thefirst satellite bag into the separation bag; transferring the firstcomponent into the second satellite bag, after the composite fluid hassedimented into the at least first and second components; andtransferring the second component into the first satellite bag, afterthe first component has been transferred into the second satellite bag.39. A method according to claim 38, wherein the composite liquid isblood, the first component comprises plasma, and the second componentcomprises platelets and white blood cells.
 40. A method according toclaim 39, wherein the separation bag is further connected to a thirdsatellite bag containing a volume of storage solution for red bloodcells, the method further comprising the steps of: securing the thirdsatellite bag within the central compartment so that a lower portionthereof is closer to a rotation axis of the rotor than an upper portionthereof and so that a content of the third satellite bag drains undercentrifugation forces into the separation bag when the rotor is spun ata rotation speed; allowing flow communication between the thirdsatellite bag and the separation bag, after the second component hasbeen transferred into the first satellite bag; spinning the rotor at arotation speed so as to transfer the volume of storage solution from thethird satellite bag into the separation bag; mixing the storage solutionin the separation bag with a third separated component comprising redblood cell and white blood cells; transferring a mixture of red bloodcells, white blood cells and storage solution from the separation baginto the third satellite bag.
 41. A method according to claim 40,further comprising the step of filtering the mixture of red blood cells,white blood cells and storage solution between the separation bag andthe third satellite bag so as to collect in the third satellite bag ared blood cell component substantially devoid of white blood cells. 42.A method according to claim 30, wherein the volume of composite liquidis a volume of thawed glycerolized red blood cells, the first componentcomprises glycerol, and the second component comprises red blood cells.43. A method according to claim 42, wherein the volume of thawedglycerolized red blood cells is contained in the first satellite bagconnected to the separation bag, to which a second satellite bagcontaining a volume of wash solution is connected, the method furthercomprising the steps of: spinning the rotor at a rotation speed allowingfor the sedimentation, in the separation bag, of a first inner layercomprising glycerol and a second outer layer comprising red blood cells,after the volume of thawed glycerolized red blood cells has drainedunder centrifugation forces from the first satellite bag into theseparation bag; transferring the glycerol from the separation bag intothe first satellite bag; allowing a flow communication between thesecond satellite bag and the separation bag, after the glycerol has beentransferred from the separation bag into the first satellite bag; andspinning the rotor at a rotation speed allowing for the drainage of thewash solution from the second satellite bag into the separation bag soas to transfer at least one portion of the volume of the wash solutionfrom the second satellite bag into the separation bag.
 44. A methodaccording to claim 43, further comprising the steps of: mixing the washsolution in the separation bag with the red blood cells, after the atleast one portion of the volume of the wash solution has drained intothe separation bag; spinning the rotor at a rotation speed allowing forthe sedimentation, in the separation bag, of a first inner layercomprising wash solution and a second outer layer comprising red bloodcells; transferring the wash solution from the separation bag into thefirst satellite bag.